Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets

Even before the season began, there weren't too many people who thought the New Jersey Nets had a shot at the playoffs.

When starting center Brook Lopez broke his foot in the Nets' last preseason game, any hope of entering the playoffs went out the window.

Last season, he led the team in scoring with 20.4 points per game. While Lopez isn't a dominant defender, he did give the team a combination of scoring and defense that neither Mehmut Okur or Johan Petro can provide.

Lopez's future with the team is uncertain as he becomes a restricted free agent at year's end, but sitting with a 6-13 record, they sure miss his presence this season.

The Injured Boston Celtics

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Where should I begin?

The Boston Celtics have had a string of injuries this season that hasn't been easy for the team to work around. Nearly every player on the roster has had to sit out at some point, and the Celtics have only played 16 games.

Currently, a number of key players are listed day-to-day. Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Jermaine O'Neal, Chris Wilcox, Keyon Dooling and Mickael Pietrus are all on the injury report

Jeff Green, who recently visited his teammates according to ESPN, isn't going to play a single game this year because of a non-basketball injury (aortic aneurysm). This may be the biggest hit the team had to take. Green is extremely versatile and the Celtics traded their starting center, Kendrick Perkins, for him last season.

Fortunately for the Celtics, they play in the Eastern Conference and a 7-9 start won't be impossible to overcome, but it isn't going to be easy either.

The Timberwolves deserve the honor of being named the best team with a losing record in the Western Conference, (and maybe the NBA) but the team needs to remain healthy and play with each other for a few weeks before it really starts to mesh.